Six Women Pioneers Who Advanced Aviation

Tuesday, March 01, 2022 at 10:31 AM ET

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Harriet Quimby started as a writer and became interested in aviation after attending the 1910 International Aviation Tournament. [Courtesy: Library of Congress]

Key Takeaways:

The article showcases several pioneering women who achieved significant "firsts" in aviation, including Harriet Quimby (first U.S. licensed woman pilot and English Channel crossing), Jacqueline Cochran (first woman to break the sound barrier), Ann Carl (first American woman to fly a jet), and Geraldine Mock (first solo around-the-world flight).
Women have played diverse and influential roles in aviation history, from early barnstormers and flight instructors like Neta Snook Southern (who taught Amelia Earhart) to military service as WASPs and breaking into commercial airlines, exemplified by Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo (first woman pilot for a major U.S. airline).
These trailblazers consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, competitiveness, and perseverance, overcoming societal barriers and contributing profoundly to the advancement and normalization of women's presence in all aspects of aviation.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series to mark Women’s History Month: March 1: Pioneers of Women’s Aviation | March 2: Carole Hopson | March 4: Martha King | March 8: Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance | March 11: The Air Race Classic | March 15: Sisters of the Skies | March 18: Women in Aviation Conference | March 22: Women In Aviation: The Numbers | March 22: The first graduating class of Air Force female pilots. | March 25: Bonny Simi of Joby Aviation | March 29: Top Female Difference Makers in Aviation

Women have been involved with airplanes since the earliest days of flight, from Katharine Wright managing her brothers’ bicycle shop and flight operations around 1903 to the first “licensed” women pilots taking to the skies a decade later, followed by barnstormers, racers, and record setters in the 1920s and 1930s.